When can I apply for baby bonding PFL with 5 weeks remaining? Tomorrow after work or wait until start date?
I'm super stressed about my EDD PFL application timing for baby bonding! My little one is 7 weeks old now and I've been on maternity disability leave, but that ends this Friday. I have exactly 5 weeks left to use for baby bonding before I have to return to work. Can I submit my PFL claim tomorrow after I finish my last day on disability, or do I need to wait until Saturday (my official first day of baby bonding)? My HR person wasn't clear and I don't want to mess this up and lose even a day of my precious bonding time. Anyone done this transition recently? The EDD website says something about not filing more than 41 days before the first day of leave but doesn't specify how early I can file when transitioning directly from disability. Help!!!
19 comments
Join the conversation
Yuki Tanaka
Apply the day after your disability ends! I messed up and waited a week after my SDI ended to apply for baby bonding and lost out on a week of benefits because they won't backdate it. The EDD lady told me you're supposed to apply as soon as your disability ends, not before (that would be too early) and not waiting either (that's too late). It's confusing because the website isn't clear about transitions.
0 coins
Ethan Davis
•Thank you!! That's what I thought but wasn't sure. So I'll do it tomorrow night after I'm officially done with work and disability.
0 coins
Carmen Ortiz
You should apply for Baby Bonding PFL the day AFTER your pregnancy disability (SDI) ends. In your case, if your SDI ends Friday, you should apply on Saturday. I wouldn't recommend applying while you're still technically on disability as that can cause confusion in the system. The 41-day rule is for people who are starting a brand new claim, not for those transitioning from disability to PFL. Make sure you have your DE2501 claim number handy when you submit your DE2508PFL form, as this helps EDD connect the two claims properly. Also, when you file online, be very clear about your last day of disability and first day of baby bonding so there's no gap or overlap.
0 coins
MidnightRider
•Actually, this isn't 100% right. I talked to an EDD rep last month when transitioning from disability to baby bonding and she said you CAN apply on your last day of disability as long as your start date for PFL is the NEXT day. They need to see the continuous coverage without gaps. So OP could technically apply Friday evening (last day of disability) as long as she lists Saturday as her PFL start date.
0 coins
Andre Laurent
I was in this exact situation in January 2025. The rules are: you can apply for baby bonding PFL on the SAME DAY your pregnancy disability ends OR the next day - either is fine. What matters is that you indicate your PFL start date is the day immediately after your SDI end date so there's no gap in your benefits. In your case, if your disability ends Friday, your PFL should start Saturday, and you can apply either Friday or Saturday. Don't wait longer though - there's a misconception that you have 41 days to apply, but that's the maximum time BEFORE your leave that you can apply. Once your eligible period begins, you should apply immediately or you risk losing benefits for those days. Make sure when you apply that you select "transitioning from SDI to PFL" option if the system gives you that choice. This makes processing faster since they already have most of your information.
0 coins
Ethan Davis
•This is so helpful! The EDD website is so confusing. I'll definitely apply either Friday night or first thing Saturday morning and make sure my start date is listed as Saturday. Thank you!
0 coins
Zoe Papadopoulos
I waited 2 days after my disability ended to apply for baby bonding and it totally messed up my claim! Had to call EDD 17 times before getting through to fix it. So frustrated with thier system!!!!
0 coins
Jamal Washington
•If anyone's having trouble reaching EDD about their claim, I used Claimyr when I was in this same situation last month and got through to an agent in about 15 minutes instead of spending days calling. Their service connects you with an EDD representative so you don't have to keep redialing. Saved me so much stress during an already stressful time! They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 and the website is claimyr.com. Worth it when you're dealing with time-sensitive benefit transitions like this.
0 coins
Mei Wong
am I the only one who thinks its stupid that we only get 8 weeks for baby bonding? my cousin in canada gets like a whole year! california needs to do better for parents....
0 coins
Zoe Papadopoulos
•SERIOUSLY!!! 8 weeks is a joke. My baby was barely getting into a sleep routine by then and I had to go back to work. The whole system is broken!!
0 coins
Carmen Ortiz
Just to clarify something important: when you file for your baby bonding PFL, make absolutely sure you're checking that you're transitioning from SDI to PFL. This should give you a more streamlined application process. Since you're transitioning directly, you shouldn't need a new medical certification. However, you will need to have your baby's birth certificate information ready. One other tip: screenshot or print confirmation of your application submission. I've seen cases where claims seemed to disappear from the system, and having proof of submission with a confirmation number saved a lot of headaches later.
0 coins
Ethan Davis
•Thank you! I didn't even think about taking screenshots but that's a great idea. I'll definitely check the transition box and have my baby's birth certificate handy. I appreciate all the advice!
0 coins
Liam Fitzgerald
wait so is baby bonding different from regular maternity leave? im confused. i thought they were the same thing?
0 coins
Andre Laurent
•They're actually different programs in California. What most people call "maternity leave" is actually Pregnancy Disability Leave (SDI), which covers you before birth if needed and usually 6-8 weeks after birth depending on delivery type. Baby Bonding (PFL) is separate and gives you up to 8 weeks to bond with your new child. You can take them back-to-back for more time off, which is what the original poster is doing - transitioning from disability to bonding.
0 coins
MidnightRider
Make sure your HR department is on the same page with your leave dates! I had my dates correct with EDD but my company's leave admin recorded my return date incorrectly. Created a huge mess where they thought I was AWOL even though I was legitimately still on approved PFL baby bonding. Document everything and keep copies of all confirmations EDD sends you. Also, if possible, submit your application during regular business hours rather than late at night - sometimes the system glitches during off-hours maintenance.
0 coins
Ethan Davis
•That's a really good point about HR! I'm going to email my HR person right now to confirm all my dates and make sure they have the same understanding of my transition from disability to baby bonding. The last thing I need is a miscommunication about when I'm supposed to return to work!
0 coins
Ethan Scott
Just went through this exact transition 3 months ago! You can definitely apply tomorrow (Friday) after your disability ends, just make sure your PFL start date is Saturday. I made the mistake of waiting until Monday to apply and lost those weekend days - EDD doesn't backdate baby bonding benefits. Also, have your DE2501 claim number ready from your disability claim as it makes the application process much smoother. The online system will ask if you're transitioning from SDI to PFL, so select that option. Good luck with your remaining 5 weeks of bonding time!
0 coins
Natalie Adams
•This is exactly the confirmation I needed! Thank you for sharing your recent experience. I was getting conflicting advice but hearing from someone who just went through this 3 months ago gives me confidence. I'll definitely apply tomorrow evening after work ends and make sure to select the transition option. Having my DE2501 number ready is a great tip too. It's so stressful navigating all this when you just want to focus on bonding with your baby!
0 coins
Chloe Martin
I'm currently going through this transition too and called EDD yesterday to get clarity! The rep confirmed that you can apply on your last day of disability (Friday) OR the day after, as long as your PFL start date is the next business day. The key is NO GAP between your disability end date and PFL start date. What really helped me was having all my paperwork organized beforehand - your DE2501 number from disability, baby's birth certificate info, and your employer's info. The online system is pretty straightforward once you select "transitioning from SDI to PFL" option. Don't stress too much, you've got this! Those 5 weeks of bonding time will be so precious.
0 coins